Free bus travel must be matched by reliable services, says Later Life Ambitions

Later Life Ambitions (LLA) has welcomed the Government’s announcement that time restrictions on bus passes for people with disabilities in England will be removed from April 2027, allowing eligible passengers to travel for free at any time of day.

For many older people with disabilities, buses provide a vital link to healthcare, essential services, family and friends. However, the announcement comes against a backdrop of declining bus provision: research from the University of Leeds and Friends of the Earth has shown that between 2008 and 2023, bus provision fell by an average of 48% in urban areas outside London and 52% in rural areas across England and Wales.

Eamonn Donaghy, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners and a spokesperson for LLA, said:

“Removing these restrictions is a welcome step which will help many disabled people in later life stay independent, attend appointments and remain connected with family and friends.

“But free travel can only be genuinely useful if there is a bus to catch. The decline in services, particularly in rural areas, means too many people are still left without the reliable public transport they need.

“LLA wants to see this measure matched by stronger bus provision across England and Wales, alongside further action to make the wider transport network fully accessible to older and disabled people. Affordable travel, accessible infrastructure and reliable services need to go hand in hand.”